CHULA VISTA — Bottled up for the better part of the first half, Superior Garror finally broke loose.

The Morse High School senior running back returned a punt 43 yards to set the Tigers up at the Hoover 25. Two plays later, he was in the end zone on a 19-yard run.

That put Morse up 11 at the half, and the Tigers went on to a hard-fought 45-30 CIF San Diego Section Division 5 victory at Southwestern College on Friday afternoon. Morse, the No. 2 seed, improves to 9-4 and advances to the Southern California Regionals with pairings announced Sunday afternoon.

Hoover, the No. 9 seed, finishes its season 7-7. Morse last won a San Diego Section championship in 2018, winning Division 3. Hoover has never won a San Diego Section title.

Garror had 16 carries for 90 yards at the break with the 19-yard TD his longest run of the first half. He finished with 32 carries for 260 yards.

“We needed a spark and the punt return was it,” said Garror, who later in the game returned a punt 54 yards for a score. “This team is special. Every guy, every guy on both teams gave 100%.”

After the trophy ceremony, Garror and his Morse teammates invited Hoover into a huddle for a midfield prayer.

“This was two teams from the city in the championship game and it means something,” he said. “The prayer is something we do at our home games to show respect for our opponents.

“There is a bond between players.”

Garror came into the game with 2,742 total yards. He only had six yards receiving, but had 94 yards in returns, pushing his season total at 3,102 yards.

“We put eight in the box to stop him,” said Hoover coach Will Gray. “Multiple times we’d trap him and he’d do that jump cut. You just can’t teach that.”

Morse scored first on a 28-yard field goal by Christopher Felix Martinez.

Hoover answered with a six-play, 53-yard drive with Christian Tuipulotu hauling in a 20-yard pass from Hezekiah Manuel.

Morse came right back with a 62-yard drive, with quarterback Ethan Esmailian finding Alex Smith with a 12-yard scoring pass.

Mekhi Tolver sacked Manuel forcing a Hoover punt and Garror finally showed why he’s one of the most-feared backs in the county, fielding a punt on a bounce and finding space for a 43-yard return. Two plays later he was in the end zone and Morse led 17-6 at the break.

During the second half, Garror scored on a 42-yard run, a 54-yard punt return and a 31-yard run to seal the victory with 51 seconds to play.

“Hey, 300 total yards is special, but any number in a win is special,” Garror said. “There were times I had to tap to come out because Hoover was playing so hard. But that gives the other guys a chance to shine.”

Esmailian threw for 113 yards and a pair of scores. Smith had two carries for19 yards and caught a 12-yard TD pass.

Manuel had a big day passing for Hoover, completing 30 of 41 passes for 333 yards and three TDs.

“I felt good. We were connecting,” said Manuel, a sophomore who finished the season with 3,055 passing yards. “Our line was blocking, our receivers were getting open.”

Five Hoover receivers had at least four catches.

“I’m at peace, believe it or not,” Gray said. “The guys gave everything they had right up to the end. A coach can’t ask for anything more.”

Morse 45, Hoover 30

Hoover 0        6     16   8 – 30

Morse 0       17    20   7 –  45

M – FG Martinez 28

H – Abdullah 20 pass from Manuel (kick failed)

M – Smith 12 pass from Esmailian (Martinez kick)

M – Garror 19 run (Martinez kick)

M – Garror 42 run (Martinez kick)

H – C. Tuipulotu 28 pass from Manuel (T. Tuipulotu pass from Manuel)

M – Green 28 pass from Esmailian (Martinez kick)

M – Garror 54 punt return (McNair run)

H – T. Tuipulotu 3 run (Manuel pass from C. Tuipulotu)

H – Contreras 16 pass from Manuel (T. Tuipulotu run)

M  – T. Tuipulotu 31 run (Martinez kick)